Not 'doing' Santa

mumps

PurpleJay wrote: »

things are not always going to be how you imagined.

Ain't that the truth. Like Caitlyn22 you are doing an amazing job. I hope you have a good Christmas.

QuackQuackOops

It does no harm...thats the main thing.

I look back at Christmas time when I was young and the excitment I felt is something that I fondly remember and cherish. I see it in the eyes of my Grandchildren when they think Father Christmas is coming soon.

Why take away a magical time from a child?
To me, that would be the same as not allowing them to watch 'magical' films because they 'arent true/real', such as ET, Wizard of Oz that sort of thing.

seven-day-weekend

The difference is, we don't tell them the Wizard of Oz or ET are real, at least I don't.

Welshwoofs

On the dementia side I totally agree that you tell them whatever keeps them calm....doesn't matter how batty it is. I used to have very bizarre conversations with my step-father when he was in late stage Alzheimer's and would keep him occupied for most of the day by constantly messing up a tin of pencils he had so that he'd spend hours sorting them by length.

Now my Granny has it but I'm totally straight with her because that's what calms her. When she gets upset and says that nothing is making sense and she doesn't know where she is, I tell her it's because her brain is 'injured' and her memory is jumbled and is getting worse. She asks me if she'll die and I say "yes". She was always a woman of strong faith and for some reason, with her, brutal honesty calms her as she doesn't believe death is 'it'. Mind you, I've been overheard by carers a few times and the looks I've got have persuaded me that they must think I'm a total biatch!

amus

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I actually don't understand why people are saying 'I am an atheist therefore I am not telling my children about Santa'. What has religion (or lack of it ) to do with Santa?

I am a practising Christian and I did not particularly want to tell my son about Santa either, but it was nothing to do with religion, I did not want to tell lies that I later had to tell him were lies.

Not meaning to offend but I think it is because most atheists view religion in exactly the same way they view santa.

peachyprice

amus wrote: »

Not meaning to offend but I think it is because most atheists view religion in exactly the same way they view santa.

Sorry, I disagree completely, I don't view santa in the same way as religion at all, I also can't understand why some people seem to think the two are inextricably linked, as I said much, much earlier in the thread.

The religious festival of Christmas is poles apart from the 'holiday' (sorry to use an Americanism) of christmas.

amus

peachyprice wrote: »

Sorry, I disagree completely, I don't view santa in the same way as religion at all, I also can't understand why some people seem to think the two are inextricably linked, as I said much, much earlier in the thread.

The religious festival of Christmas is poles apart from the 'holiday' (sorry to use an Americanism) of christmas.

I was referring more to the similarity between children being told that there is a bearded fellow who lives in the North Pole and delivers presents and children being told we were created by a God.

In this way (for SOME Atheists) there are undeniable similarities, because naturally, Atheists see both as made up stories.

Therefore it does lead to the question, if I am choosing not to bring my child up with stories of religion which I believe are not true, is it right that I tell my children stories about Father Christmas, which I also believe are not true.

quinechinoise

amus wrote: »

I was referring more to the similarity between children being told that there is a bearded fellow who lives in the North Pole and delivers presents and children being told we were created by a God.

In this way (for SOME Atheists) there are undeniable similarities, because naturally, Atheists see both as made up stories.

Therefore it does lead to the question, if I am choosing not to bring my child up with stories of religion which I believe are not true, is it right that I tell my children stories about Father Christmas, which I also believe are not true.

The North Pole thing is undeniably a tricky one for both atheists and believers. However, neither should have a problem with a factual account of St Nicholas, Bishop of Myra. He was known for secretly and kindly giving gifts and we like to give gifts, just like St Nicholas did. (If you are religious there's also the "patron saint of children" aspect and a feast-day in December, which ties in nicely.) You might think he spent his life talking to himself instead of God but you can't deny he lived.

peachyprice

amus wrote: »

Therefore it does lead to the question, if I am choosing not to bring my child up with stories of religion which I believe are not true, is it right that I tell my children stories about Father Christmas, which I also believe are not true.

You don't have to believe the stories are true to tell them though. I've told my children bible stories just as I've told them stories from Greek mythology, doesn't mean I believe the Minotaur was real.

amus

peachyprice wrote: »

You don't have to believe the stories are true to tell them though. I've told my children bible stories just as I've told them stories from Greek mythology, doesn't mean I believe the Minotaur was real.

I dont disagree, I was responding to the question posed by sevendayweekend.